Injury-Plagued Special Ks Fall at First Hurdle in Australian Open Doubles
The much-anticipated return of the 'Special Ks' partnership at the Australian Open has ended in disappointment, with Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios bowing out in the first round of the men's doubles. The fan-favourite duo, both managing significant fitness concerns, were defeated by fellow Australians Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans in a gripping encounter at Melbourne Park's Kia Arena.
A Shadow of Their Former Selves
Kokkinakis offered a frank assessment after the match, admitting they performed like "shadows of our former selves." The pair, who famously triumphed at the same event in 2022, were visibly hampered throughout the contest. Kyrgios competed with heavy strapping on his left knee, while Kokkinakis's troublesome right shoulder ultimately required a medical timeout during the decisive third set.
The final scoreline read 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (10-4) in favour of the new pairing of Kubler and Polmans, who celebrated a significant victory in front of a boisterous and partisan crowd.
Frustration Boils Over in Tense Tiebreak
The match's climax was mired in controversy, leaving Kyrgios visibly angered. Two pivotal decisions during the third-set tiebreak went against the Special Ks. First, a let was called on a Kokkinakis serve that appeared to clear the net, with no challenge permitted. Moments later, Kubler was allowed to successfully challenge a separate call, despite replays suggesting Kokkinakis had played the ball before it crossed the net.
"How can you review a ball that's been hit over the net, but you can't review a serve over the net? It doesn't make any sense," a furious Kyrgios stated post-match. "We're playing for millions of dollars, we've been both injured, both trying to get to this stage, and then some of these rules are just so, so, so dumb."
Kyrgios's Theatrics and Crowd Chaos
The match was a typical Kyrgios spectacle, complete with crowd interaction and moments of gamesmanship. He delivered an underarm serve at 40-0 in the first set, only to lose the point and subsequently his service game. His frustration boiled over, earning him a warning for bad language directed at the crowd, and he narrowly avoided another for racquet abuse.
Chair umpire Marijana Veljovic faced a constant battle to maintain order, repeatedly calling for quiet and respect from the enthusiastic spectators. At one point, she retorted "that's not funny" to a comment from the stands, while enduring sarcastic "shushes" from the audience throughout the night.
Victorious New Pairing Looks Ahead
For the winners, it was a night of triumph. Jason Kubler, a former Australian Open doubles champion, was cheered on by his fiancée, Maddison Inglis, who had herself secured a third-round spot in the women's singles earlier in the day.
"When you play those two, you're in for an experience," Kubler remarked. "The energy everyone brought out tonight was crazy and I don't know if we'll feel like that for the rest of the tournament. I'm super pumped. This is the first match I've played with Marc and I thought we played very well tonight."
The victory sets up a second-round clash for Kubler and Polmans against the duo of Jakub Paul and Marcus Willis. For Kokkinakis and Kyrgios, the focus now shifts to recovery, with both players acknowledging their physical limitations prevented them from delivering the performance their legions of supporters had hoped to see.
